Backend Lead (Gaming)

TL;DR

Backend Lead (Gaming): Leading the backend team to design, implement, and maintain scalable backend services for a free-to-play Unreal Engine based game with an accent on large-scale distributed systems, microservices, and real-time multiplayer infrastructure. Focus on setting technical direction, ensuring scalability and performance, and managing a backend team in a high-availability gaming environment.

Location: Onsite in Guildford, UK with relocation support for candidates with free labor market access in the UK or Czech Republic

Company

hirify.global is an award-winning online game developer and publisher with 15 offices worldwide, known for free-to-play hits like World of Tanks and World of Warships.

What you will do

• Lead technical direction and set vision for backend systems including tech stack and tools.
• Promote coding best practices, perform code reviews, and ensure clean, efficient system designs.
• Ensure scalability, performance, and optimize development, deployment, and operations.
• Manage backend team including career development, mentoring, recruiting, and performance reviews.
• Collaborate closely with other team leads, project managers, and outsourcing partners.

Requirements

• Must be onsite in Guildford, UK with eligibility for relocation support only for candidates with free labor market access in the UK or Czech Republic.
• Expertise in designing large-scale distributed systems for gaming platforms with real-time multiplayer and microservices.
• Extensive programming experience at principal or above level in Kotlin, Java, Python, C/C++, or C#.
• Deep understanding of NoSQL databases and cloud infrastructure including Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to have

• Experience working with highly distributed teams.
• Experience operating live free-to-play game services.
• Experience with Unreal Engine.

Culture & Benefits

• 5 weeks annual leave with option to buy additional days.
• Additional paid time off including birthday, marriage, and compassionate leave.
• Sick leave compensation and enhanced maternity/paternity benefits.
• Dog-friendly office with onsite canteen and video games area.
• Private medical insurance, life insurance, pension scheme with matched contributions.
• Mental well-being programs and dedicated well-being room.
• Career development and education opportunities.
• Employee discounts and company events including family participation.